Sciatica
Sciatica describes pain and neurological symptoms that travel along the sciatic nerve, typically from the lower back or buttock into one leg. The condition commonly develops when a lumbar nerve root becomes compressed or irritated by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, bone spur or another spinal condition.
What Is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is formed from nerve roots in the lower spine and travels through the buttock and down the leg. When one of these nerve roots becomes compressed or inflamed, symptoms can follow the nerve pathway into the buttock, thigh, calf and foot.
Usually Felt on One Side
Sciatica commonly affects only one side of the body. Symptoms may range from a mild ache to intense burning, shooting or electric pain and can be accompanied by numbness, tingling or weakness in the affected leg.
Where Sciatica Pain Can Travel
Symptoms often begin around the lower spine and follow a recognizable pathway down the affected side of the body.
Nerve irritation commonly begins around the lumbar spine.
Pain may extend from the lower back into one side of the buttock.
Shooting or burning symptoms can continue down the back of the leg.
Tingling, numbness or weakness may reach the foot in some patients.
Recognizing Sciatic Nerve Pain
The hallmark of sciatica is pain that radiates from the lumbar or buttock region down one leg rather than remaining localized to the back.
Common Symptoms May Include:
What Can Irritate the Sciatic Nerve?
Sciatica is a symptom of nerve irritation rather than a single disease. Treatment depends on identifying what is placing pressure on or inflaming the affected nerve root.
Herniated Disc
Disc material can bulge or herniate into the space surrounding a lumbar nerve root, causing inflammation and radiating leg pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve openings can compress lumbar nerves and cause pain, numbness or weakness in the legs.
Bone Spurs & Arthritis
Degenerative changes in the lumbar spine can create bone spurs or joint enlargement that reduce space around nearby nerves.
Spondylolisthesis
Slippage of one vertebra relative to another can narrow the space available for spinal nerves and contribute to sciatic symptoms.
Who Is More Likely to Develop Sciatica?
Anything that increases spinal degeneration, nerve compression or repeated stress on the lower back may increase the likelihood of symptoms.
Age-Related Changes
Degenerative disc disease, arthritis and spinal stenosis become more common with age and can contribute to nerve compression.
Prolonged Sitting
Sedentary work and extended sitting can aggravate certain lumbar conditions and may worsen existing sciatic symptoms.
Repetitive Physical Stress
Frequent lifting, twisting or other repetitive spinal movements can place additional stress on the discs and lower back.
Diabetes
Diabetes can affect nerve health and may make certain patients more susceptible to nerve-related symptoms.
How Sciatica Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis involves determining which nerve is affected and identifying the spinal condition responsible for irritation or compression.
Your provider will review where the pain begins, where it travels and what activities or positions make it worse.
Strength, reflexes and sensation may be tested to identify signs of nerve-root involvement.
Imaging may help identify arthritis, bone spurs, alignment changes and other structural causes of nerve compression.
MRI provides detailed images of discs, nerves and soft tissues and is commonly used when significant or persistent symptoms require further evaluation.
Treating Sciatica
Many cases improve with conservative treatment. Persistent or severe sciatica may require additional interventions directed toward the affected spinal nerve.
Physical Therapy
Targeted stretching, strengthening and movement training can improve spinal support and help reduce irritation of the affected nerve.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory, muscle-relaxing, neuropathic pain or other medications may be recommended depending on the patient's symptoms.
Epidural Steroid Injections
An image-guided epidural injection may be used in selected patients to deliver anti-inflammatory medication near an irritated spinal nerve.
Surgical Evaluation
Surgery may be considered when significant nerve compression causes severe or progressive weakness, disabling pain or symptoms that do not improve with appropriate conservative treatment.
Some Sciatica Symptoms Require Immediate Medical Attention.
Seek urgent medical evaluation for sciatic pain accompanied by new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or saddle region, rapidly worsening leg weakness or severe symptoms following significant trauma. These findings can indicate serious compression of the nerves in the lower spine.
Does Pain Travel From Your Lower Back Down Your Leg?
Schedule a consultation to identify the cause of your sciatic nerve pain and discuss treatment options designed to reduce symptoms and restore function.